CHEERS: Following the loss of our beloved Bryan on March 5, we were overwhelmed by the individual and organizational response offered by so many to ease our grief and to provide a testament to our son, his good work and the lives that he touched.

Special thanks goes to Chief Tony Estes and the Wake Village PD, the Texarkana, Texas, Fire Department Honor Guard, the Bowie County Sheriffs Office Honor Guard, DeKalb PD, Nash PD and the Liberty-Eylau, Wake Village and DeKalb volunteer fire departments and the many other public service individuals and organizations who participated.

We are grateful beyond words for the love and support shown to us by these wonderful people. The community of and around Texarkana is truly the greatest place in America to live. God bless you each and everyone. The family of Bryan Robertson, Texarkana, Texas

JEERS: To the Texas-side City Council and city manager. I have recently moved back to Texarkana to be closer with my daughter and her family. I am shocked at the condition of the city sidewalks and streets and I am not even referring to downtown! That could be a whole page. There are weeds, trash and crumbling concrete not only on the sidewalks but a number of the intersection islands. This was a problem 10 years ago. Shame on you George, not all of us can live in Pleasant Grove. The rest of us would like a clean city as well! A.A., Texarkana, Texas

CHEERS: To the 911 dispatcher, Texarkana, Texas, police officers, fire department and LifeNet that responded to our parents home on Sunday, March 4, at approximately 10 am. 911 stayed on the phone with our mom until LifeNet and the officers reached her home and also called us stating that our dad was in distress and she needed help. The professionalism shown to our family was comforting during the loss of our beloved dad, Kenneth Fomby. The Fomby Family, Wake Village, Texas

JEERS: To the owner of a local medical equipment company for the inhuman way he treated my disabled son. The owner contacted our home threatening to remove all the medical equipment needed for my disabled son because Arkansas Rehabilitation was taking too long to pay him, even though all the equipment had been approved for payment and the counselor was awaiting a signature. In addition to the threat to come into our home uninvited, he told me he would remove my sons wheelchair from beneath him and leave him lying on the floor. My son was in a car wreck 14 months ago leaving him with lower paraplegia and upper hemaplegia and the wheelchair is his only means of mobility. This man had my son so upset with his threats, it took the rest of the day for me to calm him down. My son was afraid this man would show up at our home while I was at work and he would be unable to defend himself. There was no reason for this man to contact my son since he had already spoken to the Arkansas Rehabilitation counselor and myself regarding this matter. Apparently he thought it would be easier just to try and intimidate my son. I have never met anyone with less empathy or compassion for another human being, as this man. This man is a total disgrace to the human race and should be ashamed of himself. I sincerely hope that anyone who has a disabled family member chooses another medical equipment and supply company for the needs of their loved ones. S.S., Texarkana, Ark.

JEERS: To the persons who demolished the birdbath in the front yard of my home in Wake Village between 3:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, March 2. Evidently more than one person was involved, as the birdbath was made of heavy concrete. I am a home-bound person and received much pleasure from watching the many species of birds as they found a place to take a bath. It was also a source of drinking water for the birds, as well as squirrels and some cats. If the culprits were children on their way home from school, I hope they will be reminded of my loss (and that of the birds) each day as they pass by my house. G.M., Wake Village, Texas.

Cheers and Jeers are published each Saturday on the Opinion Page of the Texarkana Gazette.

Cheers and Jeers must be limited to 100 words or less, and may be edited for length and legal considerations. No personal attacks, business/commercial, or consumer complaint Cheers or Jeers will be printed.

You may submit your Cheers and Jeers to us at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504; by fax at 903-794-3315; or by e-mail at opinion@texarkanagazette.com. Deadline for Saturday publication is noon Wednesday.

Although only initials and the city and state are printed with each entry, we require each Cheer and Jeer to include the writers name, address, telephone number and signature. Submissions become the property of the Texarkana Gazette.

Publication is limited to one entry per contributor within a 30-day period.